Liverpool wasted no time to acquire Monaco’s defensive midfielder Fabinho after their Champions League final disappointment. It felt like it was their first priority after landing at home from Kiev. They played the Champions League final on 26th and on 28th Fabinho’s transfer from Monaco to Liverpool is revealed. Now with RB Leipzig midfielder Nabi Keita already set to arrive on July 1 and Fabinho’s arrival confirmed for the same day, another transfer priority Nabil Fekir is the only missing link in their midfield department.

Lyon attacking midfielder has been consistently linked with the Reds but he’s not dropping any hint of making Liverpool comfortable. France international is still thinking about his options as he confirmed that he’ll think about his future after World Cup.

“He has ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions. He can play ‘6’, ‘8’ and ‘2’. This is cool.” ?

However, Fabinho’s £40 million transfer to Liverpool has set the alarm bell ringing in his ears as well. Fabinho appealed Fekir to join Liverpool after confirming his transfer to Anfield giant. Fabinho said in his interview that he has joined a giant of a team and appealed the Ligue 1 star to join him.

He told RMC Sport as Liverpool Echo reports, “He is a very good player, of international level. In Ligue 1, it is not only this season that he has demonstrated things. It has been a few years since he demonstrates his quality. If he comes, it will be good too.”

Fekir also responded, “If Fabinho is to be my future teammate, I’ll discuss my future after the World Cup not before. If I’ll sign somewhere before the World Cup? Honestly, I don’t know.”

Liverpool midfield always seems to be compromised this season after the prolonged injury to Adam Lallana and Emre Can. Philippe Coutinho was never replaced after Brazilian transfer to Barcelona and new arrival Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a serious blow when Reds need him most.

It left the Reds to play with their same midfield trio Jordon Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, and James Milner in every match. They didn’t have the option from the bench when any of them had a bad day or their body couldn’t bear the regular game time.

James Milner will be 33 next season. He can’t play the regular football at this age adapting to Jurgen Klopp’s style of play. He needs rest sometimes considering his role to fill in almost every position he’s asked to perform.

Wijnaldum was never the first choice for Klopp until Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered injury. He doesn’t fit in Klopp’s attacking style of football because he is not always ready to shoot when he’s in range to shoot.

James Henderson simply can’t be always fit to play every match for them.

And considering all three of the limited role, Liverpool needed a new trio to jump in. Emre Can is expected to leave this summer to Juventus, Lallana’s injury history doesn’t give a boost to start next season with the same squad committing the same mistake and we simply don’t know when Oxlade-Chamberlain will be back.

It gives Liverpool a new option to trio a new trio in midfield. Fabinho can guard the defensive midfield role although he can play as no.2, no.6, or no.8 role. Naby Keita and Nabil Fekir will give them an option in creative play with attacking mentality.

Liverpool’s attacking house is almost full with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Firmino. They also have the backup in Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke, Ben Woodburn, and Rhian Webster, but they need a fourth top class striker who can genuinely replace the front three if any of them suffers injury.

I have no doubt about Liverpool young fullbacks. Trent John Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson respectively have impressed in the right-back and left-back role. Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno can make way for others to join as backups.

Liverpool’s center-back pairing was never better than now. Dejan Lovren and Virgil Van Dijk are really growing together and their replacement is also good. Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, and Joe Gomez are good options when they are fit.

It left Liverpool to think only about the shot-stoppers. Simon Mignolet was already out of favour after Lorius Karius showed potential. But after Karius’ disaster in Champions League final, Jurgen Klopp is forced to think about his options.

However, Klopp is very good with giving his players second chance because he personally believes in them. Karius may stay knowing he’ll learn from his experiences. He possibly couldn’t get a better learning experience than committing a mistake in Champions League final.

It left Liverpool to complete their missing link in this transfer window. Nabil Fekir is their missing link considering Lallana’s injury prone history. Naby Keita and Fabinho have already strengthened their team with their early arrival and now the focus will be on to complete Nabil Fekir’s deal.